Stephane Aviron set up his negociant business with his close friend from the viticultural school school Lycée Vinicole in Beaune, Nicola Potel. Originally starting out as a bottling business for some of Beaujolais’ top producers, he used his contacts to start making his own wines in their cellars whilst adopting Burgundian methods.

Managing single vineyard ‘cru’ sites with very old vines, instructing the vignerons of each site to apply his demanding standards of environmentally conscientious philosophies, with discipline and rigour aimed at a low-interventionist approach, with yields as low as 25 hl/ha and elevage in barrique of up to 10 months, Stephane endeavoured to produce Beaujolais reminiscent of the great vintages from the 1930s and 40s. In 1999 he produced his first vintage aged in 100% new oak barrels. Although all his wines are labelled under his name, they are all usually Domaine wines as the grapes are harvested, vinified and bottled at the estate. The Domaine de la Madrière is produced at his ex wifes families vineyard just under the Church of La Madonne at the top of the hill of Fleurie.